My parents are not able to actively enjoy Liquorice, our Newfoundland pup, as much as I. They are unable to take her for walks or get down to her level for a game. Still they have their moments.
One evening last week I was to go into Sydney. Ma and Pa came outside to see me off. I had to go back inside for a forgotten paper and when I returned there was Liquorice with my mother who was sitting on my father’s old chair in the breezeway. It is an old metal framed folding chair my father used on our plant stall at the markets and which he now uses to sit, view the world and give Liquorice a cuddle while outside. I had welded 6″ extensions on the legs so he could more easily get up to serve customers, who always came as soon as you sat or started to eat. As a fellow stallholder used to say with annoyance, “Customers are a B****Y nuisance”. <vbg> But Ma was sitting there now, making “baby” noises and gently stroking Liquorice’s neck and shoulders. She was leaning as far forward as she could. Liquorice sitting respectfully in front of her, stretching her neck and head as high as possible to better enjoy the moment. They were almost nose to nose with Liquorice bridging the gap to my mother’s face with her darting pink tongue. My mother, making baby noises to her “infant”, her hands cupping Liquorice’s head then stroking her neck and shoulders. Liquorice for her part made no attempt to mouth my mother’s hands or wrists. She just sat there looking up at Ma, her head to one side to better feel her mum’s caress. My father was calling Liquorice from the garage. He was to hold her while I left. I do not believe Liquorice was disobeying or ignoring him. Liquorice was simply not aware of his calls, she was totally immersed in the moment. As was I.
Liquorice is surprisingly aware that she must be gentle with the older generation. She does not walk between their legs or hold their clothing as she does with me. When they walk she is fascinated with the rubber knob on the end of their walking sticks, following every movement with her nose, occasionally trying to take hold of it with her mouth as they lift the walking stick.
Whenever I lift Liquorice up to take her inside, outside or just to give her a nurse <vbg> she is able to see the world from a different perspective, her eyes being about five feet above ground as opposed to a foot or so. She takes keen interest in seeing the tops of tables, chairs, counters and other furniture. A whole New World. But when she sees my parents at eye level she becomes excited, reaching out with her front legs, her toes stretching like fingers and closing as if reaching out, trying to hold and pull them closer. Her excitement builds as they approach but she does not struggle in my arms. My parent will hold one of Liquorice’s paws in each hand so as not to get scratched as their skin bruises and tears very easily. It is baby talk and sickly sweet little compliments as Liquorice’s tongue works overtime in a display of affection. It is difficult to know who enjoys these sessions most, my parents, Liquorice or me.
Liquorice will often play with her toys on the family room floor watched by the three of us. While Liquorice is gentle with her older generation, the sight of my Dad’s toes poking out from the end of his open-toed elastic stockings is more than a playful pup can resist. So if he is not paying proper attention she is able to give them a “nip”. Before she applies any pressure though my father whips his feet away with a panicky “No”. Poor Liquorice looks up at him with a startled expression that seems to say “For an old fella you sure move fast”, then finds another toy that also makes a noise!
Liquorice will sit in front of my father, in his easy-chair, as he watches the idiot box and slowly place a front foot between his legs on the chair. Then gently she pushes herself up with her back legs so as she is standing with her neck resting on his chest and her nose under his chin. And rests there.
We arrived home three hours later than expected on Monday afternoon. I let Liquorice out but rather than tend to her other needs she went straight to the back door of the car to greet my father who willingly paid an exit fee from the car of pats and cuddles.
Most surprisingly though, the doctors are now saying that Ma will soon be able to have both her knees replaced. She was to have had that done the week after Liquorice joined our home but Ma had become too frail, loosing weight alarmingly (around two kgs a week) over a couple of months reaching the point where the surgeon would not operate. Ma’s medications have only been slightly altered, she has endured a barrage of tests, scans, x-rays etc revealing little of consequence. Since the middle of January Ma has been eating well and is now putting on weight and starting to re-build muscle. She can now get up from a chair without assistance if necessary. Liquorice came into our lives on January 10. I do not think that is a coincidence! Liquorice is just the best medication my parents have had in a long time.
Arthur Witten
Liquorice